In fact he was diagnosed 10 years ago, but it has now gotten to the point where it will affect his guitar playing. Glenn Tipton will be unable to tour as usual behind their forthcoming new album, Firepower. His onstage guitar role will be filled by co-producer Andy Sneap.

Tipton’s statement reads in part:

“I want everyone to know that it’s vital that the Judas Priest tour go ahead and that I am not leaving the band – it’s simply that my role has changed. I don’t rule out the chance to go on stage as and when I feel able to blast out some Priest!”

We wish Glenn Tipton all the best in his fight against Parkinson’s. Priest’s new album Firepower will be out March 9 2018.

Like this:

If any single person in the rock world seemed destined to keep on truckin’ despite a terrible diagnosis, it was Pat Torpey. Even though he had Parkinson’s disease, he was still participating in Mr. Big in every way except physically playing the drums. He wrote the parts and oversaw their performance by Matt Starr. He was in the videos. He was so positive and inspiring in interview footage.

This debilitating disease finally took Torpey’s life at age 64.

This one hurts. Mr. Big is one of those underrated bands made up of fantastic players, but largely ignored. They had the dreaded “one hit” (“To Be With You”), but that’s not the song we’ll use here to remember Pat Torpey.

Listen to the power, precision and sheer rock and roll that is Pat Torpey on “Addicted to that Rush”.

There are few funnier than singer/comedian Billy Connolly. My theory is that it’s the Scottish accent. Live in New York is the funniest comedy DVD that I own. I don’t buy a lot of them, because I find they have a limited lifespan before they get old. I have another Billy as well (Erect For 30 Years), which combines his old standup plus interview and documentary footage. From his Too Old to Die Young tour, Live in New York is the one to get; it’s pure gold.

There isn’t much “standing” in Billy’s stand-up. He’s mobile, acting out his scenes, rarely stationary. This was recorded in 2005, before Billy’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. What storytelling ability! Like a big beast, every story is recreated on stage for your entertainment.

Even though I have seen some of these bits before (Billy scaring his sister is classic), they all come across as if Billy is telling the stories for the first time. Halfway through a story, he will go off on a tangent. He’ll stop his story mid-breath, pause, and then say, “I just have to tell you about something…” Then he’ll tell another story, and come back to his original story 10 minutes later, to much laughter and applause.

Everything’s funny, but some bits here were absolutely hilarious. They include:

The afforementioned “sister” story which takes 10 times as much time to set up as the story itself.

The stories about his dad who had a stroke. If you have ever had a family member who’s had a severe stroke, then you’ll know. Billy nailed this one on the head, hilariously.

The “thistle” tattoo.

And best of…opera. You’ll know what I mean when you see it. Billy nails everything I love and hate about opera!

Audio is plain stereo, format is full screen. No special features; just the show. Billy may be getting old, his hair may be white, but his humour has lost absolutely nothing over the years. This is, in my humble opinion, the very best DVD that Billy has to offer.

I can still remember, very clearly, my thoughts about “To Be With You” when it finally became a hit in 1992.

“It’s a deserved hit,” I thought, “But that’s the end of Mr. Big having any chance of being seen as a serious band by the general public.”

Serious indeed. Eric Martin had a previous career as a blue-eyed soul singer. Paul Gilbert was in shred band Racer X with future Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis. Pat Torpey was a well-known drummer for appearing on several shred rock albums, like Impelliteri. And Billy Sheehan, of course, is generally listed as one of the top bassists of all time, with a period at the end. These guys were not slouches. But they did form a commercial rock band, and suffered the consequences that most commercial rock bands did in the 1990s. They faded to obscurity. Everywhere but Japan, where they continued to thrive as rock heroes.

It’s gratifying that 25 years later in 2017, Mr. Big have an album out that’s as good as any of their first four. They even reunited with their original producer Kevin Elson. But it’s all not peaches and cream. Pat Torpey suffered a setback in 2014 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Undaunted, Torpey still worked with his loyal bandmates on Defying Gravity. Just as before, he participated in shaping the songs, even though he was unable to play on them. Ace Frehley’s drummer Matt Starr* has taken over live and recording duties, while Torpey wrote and produced the drum parts. In the accompanying DVD, it’s very gratifying to see the band adapt seamlessly to this new reality. They even have fun with it in the music videos, as Starr and Torpey play together and switch instruments. Check out the lead single and title track for a great example of making it work.

Speaking of the lead single/video…holy shit, what a hook! Gilbert’s tricky and exotic timing and note choices are somehow bent and twisted into a pop song! It’s that schooled approach that makes certain Mr. Big songs completely unlike whatever is on the radio, but just as catchy.

All the songs have spark, and the solo work is untouchable. Bluesy and funky hard rock is the basis of “Open Your Eyes”. The second single (“Everybody Needs a Little Trouble”) stomps out a heavy blues rock beat. On to “Damn I’m In Love Again”, Mr. Big take a drive into the country. “Nothing Bad ‘Bout Feelin’ Good” is a hybrid, using the acoustics in a heavier way. There are plenty more hit-quality highlights: “Forever & Back”, and “She’s All Coming Back to Me Now”. For the fans: “Nothing At All”, the heavy rockin’ “1992” (a brilliant look back at the glory days), and “Be Kind” which is just a jaw dropping example of what these guys can do with just their voices, instruments and a song!

For a deeper understanding of this album, check out the deluxe edition with bonus DVD.** Not only will you get all the music videos, but also behind the scenes segments on set, and the EPK (“electronic press kit”). Finally there is a track by track analysis of every song featuring each member, and more behind the scenes footage. This is where you’ll find the most insight. Influences abound from the expected to the unexpected. From doo-wop to Christina Aguilera? Why not. The one with the beat cribbed from Aguilera is actually one of the heaviest and solo-dense tracks (“Mean to Me”).

Defying Gravity isn’t really a surprise, because Mr. Big have put out plenty of good albums over the recent years. Perhaps it’s a bit more inspired. It certainly has potential to be on a few “top ten of 2017” lists this year.

4/5 stars

* Matt Starr may in fact be a Klingon. In the Original Series, Klingons looked much like humans, without their trademark head ridges. What gives away Starr’s possible Klingon status is his dead ringer of a Klingon moustache and beard.

Matt Starr is the one with the drum head.

** I know what you’re thinkin’. “LeBrain, why didn’t you buy the Japanese edition with a bonus track?” This time out the only bonus track is a radio edit of “Defying Gravity” which, cost considered, I can live without.